Switch control apparatus with improved brush contact means



May 9, 1967 c. s. ADAMS ETAL 3,319,017

SWITCH CONTROL APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED BRUSH CONTACT MEANS OriginalFiled July 10, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l fl I60.

COUNTERS E5 7 TERMINAL.

BOARD Loom STOP I8 I J TO INPUT f SCANNER a [6 EXISTING Loom CIRCUIT 3Couwrcns R, I 2 '1 C j INVENTORS CECIL s. ADAMS,

[5L TERMINAL BOARD JAMES B. ADAMS,

BY FELTON a. BAILEY WARP STOP F E0 AI? R WALKER ATrok/v Y T May 9, 1967c. s. ADAMS ETAL SWITCH CONTROL APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED BRUSH CONTACTMEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed July 10, 1962 INVENTORS CECIL S.ADAMS, dAMES B. ADAMS FELTON B. BAILE 1 KEY? GAI? E WAL May 9, 1967 c.s. ADAMS ETAL 3,319,017

SWITCH CONTROL APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED BRUSH CONTACT MEANS OriginalFiled July 10, 1962 5 sheets-sheet 4 STYLUS 46 0 5 o u o u m 02 BYFELTON B. BA/LEK GAR F WALKER INVENTORS CECIL 5. ADAMS, dAMES B, ADAMS,

y 9, 1967 c. s. ADAMS ETAL 3,319,017

SWITCH CONTROL APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED BRUSH CONTACT MEANS OriginalFiled July 10, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l I l l i I g 6. I

INVENTOR CECIL S. ADAMS 0 JAMES B-ADAMs F 19. Y FELTON B. BAILEY EDGAR EWALKER United States Patent 6 Application Jan. 8, 1965, Ser. No.428,009, now Pat. No. 3,226,726, dated Dec. 28, 1965, which is acontinuation oi application Ser. No. 208,816, July 10, 1962. Divided andthis application Sept. 30, 1965, Ser. No.

2 Claims. Cl. 200-13 This is a division of our copending continuationapplication Ser. No. 428,009, entitled Textile Production ControlApparatus, filed January 8, 1965, now Patent No. 3,226,726, datedDecember 28, 1965 which is a continuation of application Ser. No.208,816, entitled Textile Production Control Apparatus, filed July 1962,now H abandoned.

This invention relates to textiles and more especially to productioncontrol apparatus for recording the duration and time of occurrence ofstops of each of a multitude of textile machines such as looms, knittingmachines, spinning frames and the like, as well as apparatus forrecording the total down time of large groups of textile machines.

Devices have been proposed for recording the total operating time of agroup of looms for providing a basis on which to compute the wages ofoperators, however, such devices have either proved unreliable or tooexpensive to justify their use. Devices commonly used in the textileindustry for the purpose of computing wages are individual pickcounters, one of which is mounted on each loom. The only informationprovided by such counters is a measure of cloth production in terms ofloom running cycles from the time of last reading. Such devices must beread periodically and the readings totalized according to groups oflooms all of which is consuming of time and labor. Other devices havebeen proposed for computing loom down time due to specific causes suchas, down time due to warp breakage or down time due to filling breakage.Such former devices have proved impractical due, to some extent, to theexcessive complexity of the switch gear and the difiiculty of makingproper electrical connections from the large number of looms operated ina single weave room to a central reading station. No former devicesuccessfully contemplated the recording of individual loom down timewith respect to duration and time of occurrence. While the presentinvention is thought to have application to textile machines of any typepresent in large number in a textile mill, the device has specialapplication to looms. Therefore, the preferred embodiment disclosed willbe in terms of its relation to looms.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the invention to provideapparatus for recording individual machine down time with respect toduration and time of occurrence.

Another object of this invention is to provide a graph recording of suchindividual loom down time so that the operation of looms in one or moredepartments may be observed on a single graph.

Another important object of the invention is to provide operatingcondition information in numerical form grouped according to operator,shift and the like so that a comparison of operator efiiciency may behad.

Still another object of the invention is to provide effective apparatusfor totalizing down time for groups of looms.

Another important object of the invention is to provide apparatus formonitoring a single down time signal and distributing this signal to oneor more selected recording means according to a desired variety ofgroupings.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple effective apparatusfor connecting a large number of looms, such as in a weave room, torecording apparatus for giving a variety of information on the operationof such looms.

An important object of the invention is to provide scanning meansdistributing loom stop signals to operate a graphic recording device andredistributing these same signals to one or more recording means eachrepresenting a group according to operator, style or shift as desired.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a permanentvisual history of the activities of operators with relation to time andindividual looms.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will bellereinatfer described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a loom and thevarious electrical connections therefor according to the presentinvention,

FIGURE 2 is a schematic circuit diagram further illustrating the variouselectrical connections for a device constructed in accordance with thepresent invention,

FIGURE 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating apparatus constructed inaccordance with the present invention,

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation of recorder and switching mechanismconstructed in accordance with the invention,

FIGURE 5 is a sectional side elevation taken on the line 5-5 in FIGURE4,

FIGURE 5A is a front elevation illustrating a graph paper upon a deviceembodying the present invention,

FIGURE 6 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 6-6 in FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 7 is a schematic plan view illustrating machine connectionsconstructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIGURE 8 is a schematic elevation further illustrating electricalconnections between machines and the scanning mechanism, and

FIGURE '9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 in FIGURE 8.

In order to achieve certain of the objects of the present invention itis necessary to scan a multitude of circuits. It is desirable to useeach circuit in this multitude individually in two different ways.First, it is desirable to record machine stoppage on a chart such thatthe particular machine involved, the time of occurrence and the durationof the condition may be indentified. Second, it is desirable to take thesignal from this particular circuit and numerically record it in adesired group of which there may be several. This is accomplishedgenerally by scanning means in the form of circular switching meanscomprising a multitude of contact points wherein an increased number ofcontact points by using the circular switch elements are in a stacked organged relationship as illustrated at A in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. Thebrushes of the circular input scanner switch A will be synchronized withother such elements that the corresponding contacts of each switchelement are searched simultaneously as described in greater detailbelow.

A second scanning means is provided in the form of a separate circularinput selector switch B similar tothat previously described but runningat a higher rate of speed, the multiple of which is determined by thenumber of ganged sections stacked in switch A. Switch B is used tosearch the brush assemblies of the switch A and individualize thesignals on the brushes of ganged switch A. Selector switch'B, which hasevery fourth terminal commoned as shown in FIGURE 3, is provided tosequentially connect each of the four brush assemblies of scanner switchA to point 103. For example, if eight circular switch brushes a, b, cand d, and a, b, c' and d (FIG- URES 3, 4 and 5) are included incircular switch A for use with eight levels of contacts, the brush a ofcircular switch B would be on its first contact 1 when the brush a ofswitch A is on its contact 1. (See FIGURE 4.) When the brush a of switchB is on its second contact 2 it would search switch A, the b brush ofwhich would be 'on'c-ontact 2 (not shown) of switch A. Then when thebrush a of switch B is on its contact 3 it would search switch A, the cbrush of which would be on contact 3 (not shown) of switch A. The brusha of switch B is on its contact 4, while the brush d of switch A is onits contact 4 (not shown). When the brush a of switch B is on itscontact 5 the brush a of switch A will be on its contact 5. This typesearching is repeated throughout the revolution of brushes a and a ofswitch B and in this case thebrushes of switch B would run at four timesthe speed of the brushes of switch assembly A. In this manner, thesignals available in assembly A are individualized by means of switch B.Since these two switch elements'are running at a fixed speed it isimportant that, the brush a in circular switch A slightly lead brush b.Brush b should slightly lead brush 0, and brush should slightly leadbrush d. "This is done, as illustrated in FIG- URE 4, to be sure thatwhen scanning assembly B senses the appropriate brush in scanningassembly A, this brush definitely will be on contact. Thus thisstaggered brush arrangement assures that the proper brush will always be'on contact at the right time and for sufiicient duration to enablescanning assembly B to pick up for the maxi- :mum signal time.

The various contacts are assigned corresponding numbers on FIGURES 4,and 6 to further illustrate the scanning sequence employed. For example,after brush a of selector switch B has passed contact 26 of selectorswitch B, brush a engages contact 27 of the back deck of contacts.Atthis time brush 0 of input scanner A is on contact 27. When'brush aof'selector switch B leaves contact 26 the drum 37 will have completedone eighth of a cycle. Thus, when any contact is made onscanner switch Aduring its cycle a corresponding determinable contact is made onselector switch B.

Since scanning assembly B is driven from a rim gear on a drum recorder,it is evident that the switching action which takes place in this rotaryswitch can be used to indicate on the circumference of the drum, and itis also evident that the signal from any particular circuit in theswitching action previously described has a definite location forrecordation in, relation to the circumference of the drum and can beutilized along the full length of the drum. To use this type arrangementfor recording, suitable graph paper such as Teledeltos paper (see FIGURE5A), sold as Stock L-48 by Western Union Company of Irvington, NewJersey is placed on the drum and an electric stylus is provided totraverse a fixed path in relation to the axis of the drum. This stylusis moved longitudinally in a path parallel to the axis of the drum by alead screw (49 in FIGURE 5) causing the stylus to be advanced at a fixedrelationship to the speed of the drum.

Thus, the switching means reduces a multitude of available signals to.one at a time in a definite sequence in order to properly pulse thestylus. Also, it is observed that a numerical counter may the pulsedwhenever the stylus is pulsed thereby recording numerically the numberof signals acquired over a period of time.

These, signals .may vbe redistributed. in ,order .to get .a

total count of stoppages by groups of looms. For example, signals may beassigned to groups which pertain to operators, to maintenance personneland groups which may be producing the same materials. To accomplishthis, the scanning arrangement previously described is inverted so thatan output selector switch element B corresponding to circular switch Bis used to systematically complete a circuit to brush assemblies inoutput scanning switches C, D and E which correspond to brush assembliesa, b, c and d, and a, b, c and d in switch assembly A. This means thatat one time one circuit in scanning assembly A is scanned by selectorassembly B which selects the proper one of the ganged sections or ecksof scanning assembly A. In a like manner a corresponding section ofscanning assembly B picks out the proper one of the ganged sections inscanning assemblies C, D and E so that the signal can be processed inthe proper manner at each of these three output sections. This resultsin the information impressed upon each contact of scanner switch A beingin the proper timed sequence, being present on the correspondingcontacts of paralleled output scanner switches C, D and E.

The multitude of contacts which comprises scanning sections C, D and Emay be assigned in two ways. First, the contacts on scanning switch Cwhich apply to a particular category of information sought would bestrapped so as to make these points common with each separate readout.Thus, for example, if 104 of the 208 looms were assigned to a particularweaver such 104 contacts could be made common. Second, if it isdesirable to have each available circuit of scanning switch C optionallyavailable to several weavers, the contacts on this switch can be wireddirectly to terminals on a patchboard assembly. Such would have contactpoints or terminals corresponding in number with those which comprisescanning switch C in each group and as many such groups of contactpoints as one would choose to make available. By means such as ashorting pin or a jumper wire any terminal which cor-responds to aparticular contact point on scanning switch C can be made common withany one of the available groups or readouts. In a like manner, thecontact points on scanning switch D and B may be arranged in such amanner as to assign each contact to the readout to which it would apply.

Thus, the first operation which takes place is the scanning of a largegroup of machines through rotary switches having staggered brushassemblies. These rotary switches are then scanned by a single inputselector switch so that the signals impressed upon the rotary switchesare used to mark a chart. These signals are then impressed upon anoutput selector scanner which distributes them to a number of otherrotary switches which apply them through corresponding contacts todesired groups of sub-totalizing means. The graphic totalization of avery large group of signals is thus accomplished with the capability ofredistributing these same signals to desired indicating means.

Referring to FIGURE 1 a loom is broadly designated at 10 and includeswarp yarn W coming off of the loom beam 11 and being fedover the usualwhip roll 12. The warp yarn is then fed through the usual drop wires 13.Electrical connection is made from the secondary 14 of the loomtransformer through a switch 15. The transformer illustrated is astandard part of the loom control circuitry, whose function it is toprovide a control voltage in the proper range from its secondary 14. Theswitch 15 is normally close-d when the loom is in operation and ismechanically attached to the shipper rod 17 which opens same upon loomstoppage. 'The switch 15 drop wires 13 falls to a shorting positioncausing the solenoid 16 to energize. The solenoid 16 pulls in its shuntcontact 16a thus relieving the drop wire 13 of further responsibility.The solenoid 16 operates mechanical means to stop the loom. When theloom stops the switch 15 is mechanically Opened by the shipper rod 17 todeenergize the circuit. Upon restarting the loom the switch 15 is closedresponsive to movement of the shipper rod 17 to operating position. Thescanning mechanism requires a connection to ground in order to monitorloom stops and for this purpose relay 18 was added to the circuit. Therelay 18 is normally energized, when the loom is running, holding openits contact 18a. When the loom stops the relay 18 is de-energized andits contact 18a closes to signal input scanning means A through aconductor 19 (see FIGURE 2). In the event no electrical automatic stopdevice is used on the machine, a switch similar to switch 15 in FIGURE 1would be used. Switch 15 is mechanically actuated by movement of thecontrol lever and in this arrangement is mounted so that the sensingcontacts are open when the control handle is in the on position andclosed when the control handle is in the off position, therebycompleting the sensing circuit to ground. Switch 15 would thus replacethe action of contact 18a which closes the circuit 19 to ground duringmachine stoppage.

If it is desirable to count the total number of loom stops, another setof contacts 18b may be ganged with contacts 181: and be operated by thecoil 18 as double throw contacts as indicated schematically in FIGURE 2.A diode Y is connected through a resistor R1 to the high potential sideof the secondary 14 and furnishes a DC. voltage for the purpose ofcharging a capacitor C1 while the loom is running. When the loom stopsfor any reason the accumulated charge on the capacitor C1 is pulsedthrough the contacts 18b. This pulse is fed to a loom stop terminalboard (see FIGURE 2) where it is routed to a counter. The counters maybe arranged so as to totalize the down time of desired groups of looms.

If it is desirable to count the total number of stops due to faulty warpyarn a relay Ry is added in parallel with the loom solenoid 16. Everytime the loom solenoid 16 is energized by a faulty warp the relay Rywill be energized. This will cause its movable contact to move from theposition shown in FIGURE 2 to close a circuit to ground and charge thecapacitor C2 through the diode Y. Since it is the function of thesolenoid 16 to stop the loom resulting in the opening of switch 15, therelay Ry will be de-energized and its contacts will be returned tonormal position. The charge on the capacitor C2 will be delivered to thewarp stop terminal board from whence it is selectively routed to adesired counter.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5 it will be observed that various switchcomponents are supported on a vertical plate 20, and that the entiredrum unit is securely fastened to a rugged baseplate 21 by means ofbolts 22. The plate 20 is fastened to the base 21 as by screws 20a. Aswill be noted the end bells 23 support a shaft 24 for rotation axiallyof the assembly. The motor 25 is supported by a specially preparedbracket 26 that is clamped to the end bell 23. The holes 27 receive thenecessary screws (not shown) to tighten the bracket 26. A gear 29 isattached to the shaft 28 of motor 25 and is meshed with gear 30. Inturn, gear 30 is fastened to the shaft 24 by pin 31. The net result isthat the motor 25 drives the shaft 24. The leads (not shown) of themotor 25 are dressed out through a suitable port in the wall of end bell23.

Since the shaft 24 must extend through the end bells 23, the bearings 32and 33 are provided. The shaft 24 has a spade 24a on one end to drivethe shaft 34 by receiving same in a slot 34a. The shaft 34 is mountedfor rotation in the bearing 34b carried by the plate 20. Also, attachedto shaft 24 by means of a key 35 is a wheel 36. The wheel 36 is attachedto a drum 37 as by screws 38.

6 The other end of the drum is supported by a wheel 23a which turns on abearing 40 supported by the adjacent end plate 23. The motor 25 drivesthe shaft 24 which in turn drives both the shaft 34 and the drum 37 insynchronization. Now referring again to the shaft 34 it should beobserved that a gear 39 is fastened securely thereto. This gear 39 is inmesh with an idler gear 40 which is in mesh with gear 41. The gear 41 isfastened to shaft 42 which rotates the brush assembly of switch C at thesame speed as the brush assembly of switch A. As shown in FIG- URE 4, agear 41 drives the idler 62 which in turn drives a gear to which isfastened the shaft of scanner D and this gear drives idler 64 which inturn drives a gear fastened to the shaft of switch assembly E. This geartrain results in having the rotor shafts of all switches A, C, D, and Emoving at the same speed and relationship to each other. Further, thebrush a of scanning switch A finds contact 1 of the switch A at the sametime that brush a of switch B finds contact 1 of switch B. At the sametime brush [1 of switch B will cause this same information to bedistributed to contact 1 of switch assembly C and switch assembly E andthe above mentioned gear train will cause the brushes on the rotors ofthese corresponding switches to be in the proper position to distributethese signals to desired indicators such as set forth below.

Thus the motor 25, drives a shaft 24, to which is coupled a switchassembly A and the drum 37. A gear train (see FIGURES 4- and 5)increases the shaft speed of a secondary or auxiliary switch assembly Bwhich scans the main switch assembly A. It should be noted that for thispurpose the shaft 24 drives a gear 43 carried by the drum 37. The gear43 drives the selector switch shaft 44 through the gear 45. Byincreasing the speed of the selector scanner B to a proper ratio withrespect to the switch A, each brush on the selector scanner assembly Bproduces a single output. This is accomplished by making the contacts ofthe scanner B common with the proper brushes on switch A. In short, theselector scanner is the means by which the multitude of informationreceived by the main scanning assembly is considered individually and inan orderly fashion.

Now since the drum 37 turns in timed sequence with the scanner brushesand because scanning assembly B and scanning assembly A are similarexcept for speed and number of decks, then. it follows that points onthe perimeter of the drum willagree with scanner contacts. Thus, if apiece of recording paper is stretched tightly around the drum 37, it maybe ruled or lined as at X to agree with the scanner contacts asdiscussed above. In the embodiment shown, the specially prepared paperdiscussed above may be wrapped around the drum for this purpose. Thispaper is sensitive to electric currents so that when the recordingstylus 46 (FIGURE 5) which is connected to the output of switch B, isenergized, a trace Z (see FIGURE 5A) is burned on the paper.

The burning stylus 46 is mounted on a carriage 47 which has a guide 48and is driven longitudinally across the drum by the lead screw 49. Thelead screw 49 is in turn driven from shaft 24 by means of a sprocket 50,securely attached thereto by a set screw 51, providing power through asprocket chain .52 to the sprocket 53. The sprocket 53 is attached toshaft 49 by means of a friction clutch 54, against which rests acompressed spring 55 held in place by stop 56. The pressure exerted bythe clutch 54 is so adjusted that the drive from shaft 24 will remainpositive under normal operating conditions.

However, it is possible to turn the knurled nut 57 by hand and overridethe drive from shaft 24 in either direction, thus enabling preliminaryadjustments at start up or at the operators discretion. The lead screw49 is supported by bearings 49a at both ends.

Should the stylus become energized at any particular moment, it willmark a trace Z at a specific point on the paper. This point is always inagreement with the contact segments of the scanning assembly to identifythe source and with the progression of the stylus along the longitudinalsurface of the drum to determine the time of the occurrence since theswitch assembly, the stylus drive and the drum are synchronized. Thepaper is prelined and pre-positioned (see FIGURE SA) on the drum so thatany markings Z on the paper will be readily identified as to the sourceas at X and time of receipt of such intelligence as at Y. Duration ofthe occurrence resulting in the markings or traces Z may be visuallyobserved by observing elapsed time for successive markings.

The problem of placing the circuitry which must connect the individualmachines with a central station will now be considered. If the millfloor is built on grade, conduits would have to be laid beneath theflooring in main channels and in connecting spurs to each machine areabefore putting down the flooring and before installing the machines.This type application would be expensive and virtually impossible inexisting factories. The conduit'to individual machines might besuspended from the ceiling and dropped down to each machine location.This arrangement is unsightly and expensive.

If the mill floor is not built on grade and space were available beneathit, the necessary wiring could be run through the floor and routed alongthe underside of the sub-floor. The under-floor area may consist ofmerely crawl space or it may comprise another production area similar tothe floor above, possibly having an 18 foot ceiling. In either case,communications between workmen from one floor to the other would berestricted and, if scaffolding were needed, this would add to theinconvenience of properly harnessing and forming the main arteries ofwire along the ceiling. This type application would be expensive,time-consuming and potentially dangerous.

FIGURE 7 shows a multitude of looms arranged in parallel rows with themain wiring channels 60 situated beneath each parallel pair with crossaccess channels 61 to opposite machines. FIGURES 8 illustrates a numberof looms 10 with normally open sensing circuits from which sensing leadsare provided. These leads are eventually attached to individual contactsof the scanning switch A so that they can be checked at regularintervals to determine if the appropriate machine sensing device isactuated. Whenever a machine sensing device has been actuated, a circuitis completed to a counter or other recording device. where a conduitcan'be used, the wire is embedded in the floor and protected with floorsurfacing materials. FIG- URE 9 shows a cross section of the floorbetween two rows of machines 10. In one of the boards a channel to housea large number of wires. These wires are held near the bottom of thechannel 60 by spring clips 62 which are slightly longer than the widthof the channel so that when pressed into the channel, they will grip thewalls and at thesame time force the wire downward. Once these wires arein place, the channel is filled with a suitable industrial type floorsurfacing material 63. This material should be of a type having highpenetration characteristics .so that once it has cured, it becomesextremely tough and If the factory floor be concrete, the appropriate.channel canbe sawed in a similar manner to that shown .and filled withthe appropriate floor surfacing material.

durable.

number of locations and the voltage and load requirements are extremelylow. With this type arrangement there would be no fire or other safetyhazards involved ,shouldtwo or more leads becomedamaged. The main Fromthe individual looms to a point 545 has been cut partly through theboard of sufficient width different situations.

concern here is to conveniently house and, within reason, protect thecircuitry from abuse.

The electrical circuit may best be understood by referring to FIGURE 3.For sake of illustration, a complete circuit through the unit will betraced. A terminal board is illustrated in the upper left-hand cornerserving 208 circuits plus a common ground. Assuming that loom No. l isdown and it is connected through lead 19 to terminal No. 1 on this boardthe circuit is grounded to the common terminals 209 and 210. The scannerA searches this point periodically so that the grounded circuit will beconnected through scanner A, and through scanner B. At the junction ofscanners B and B the grounded circuit is connected by lead 101 to therecorder input on the control chassis A. This grounded circuit inessence cancels the holding-out bias of a vacuum tube (not shown) in theamplifier and allows current to flow through the tube. This currentenergizes a relay coil (not shown) in the amplifier and closes itscontacts. The contacts connect a DC. voltage from the power supplythrough a dropping resistor (not shown) to terminal 5 on the controlchassis A to terminal 5 on the control chassis B through a variableresistor (not shown), but which is useful to adjust the trace intensityof the stylus. From terminal 6 on the control chassis B this circuit isreturned to terminal 6 on the control chassis A. Then from terminal 7 onthe control chassis A, the signal is routed through lead 102 to theelectric stylus 46. Current from the stylus will conduct through thepaper to the drum surface causing a mark Z (FIGURE 5A) to appear on thepaper. The drum is grounded to complete the back leg of the supplycircuit. It will be noted that each time the scanner finds such agrounded circuit, a resultant mark Z will appear on the chart.

Also, referring again to the point where lead '101 is connected to thejunction 103 of the brush arms of selector switch elements B and B, andassuming that loom No. 1 is down, at the time the graphic recorderwrites,

there will also be a circuit completed through B and scanners C, D, andE. While only three output scanners-are shown, any number may be used.There must be an output scanner for each individual category of readoutrequired. This is to prevent cross circuits between the Furthermore,since two contacts are usually made at any one time on any scanner C, D,or E, due to the staggering of the brushes, diodesY' may be used inseries with all brush-arms of the output scanners to lprevent crosscircuits.

Further inquiry into circuit No. 1 will lead from the output scanners toa central patchboard. The prime purpose of the patchb-oard is tosubtotalize the readouts, for example, information concerning theactivity of weavers, fixers or styles. In this case output scanner C(Weavers) has six sub-totals (A) through '(F), output scanner D (Fixers)has four sub-totals (G) through (J), and output scanner E (Styles)hasten subtotals (K) through (T). By variation in design of thepatchboard, any number of sub-totalsmay be assigned to any category ofreadout. Thus, for example, a given weaver may be assigned the looms ofsub-totals (A) and (B) or if this constitutes too heavy a work load'hemay be assigned the looms of sub-total (A) only. Thus the performanceof that particular weaver may be recorded in terms of down time for hisgroup of looms. The subtotals are chosen at the discretion of the millsupervisors,

by arrangements of shorting pins. Once a job load is set up on the patchboard, all incoming intelligence from this group is routed to controlchassis A.

While any suitable switch gear may be used to actuate the stylus and todistribute the signals from the patch board and actuate the counterpanel responsive thereto, an arrangement found to be desirable is setforth below. Control chassis A includes a power supply for electronicrelays (A) through (T), and a shift change switch. Control chassis Bhouses the necessary control switches (not shown) and indicator lights.The power supply is conventional and prepares suitable voltages for thecounters, a bias voltage for the tubes of the electronic relays, platevoltage for all electronic relay tubes, and heater voltage for allelectronic relay tubes plus voltage for operating the shift changerelay.

The electronic relays, briefly mentioned above, are used to keep thescanner contacts from carrying appreciable current. Thus when a loomstop closes a pair of contacts, and the automatic switching (scanner)finds the closed circuit, a recorder and counter are operated throughsuitable patching on the patchboard. The counters demand more currentthan the switching can carry safely. The conventional electronic relaysoperate on minute current, yet their output is suflicient to operate therecording devices.

Finally the control chassis must operate shift change mechanism sincemany textile mills operate on a twentyfour hour basis using threeshifts. Each sub-total or group assigned to a job must be changed atshift time. A standard rotary switch of the telephone variety is used toaccomplish this. There must be a deck or level on the switch for eachjob to be shifted, and enough points to accommodate the number ofshifts. The rotary switch is usually pulsed by a set of contacts locatedin the timeclock mechanism that activates the shift change signal, butfor convenience, a hand operated switch is located in the switchingsection of the control chassis B so that the shift may be changedmanually if desired.

From the shift change switch, the intelligence is routed through a cable104 to a panel which houses sufficient counters for the tally. Thecounter panel in FIGURE 3 would need 40 counters, 10 for styles, 18 forweavers (6 for each of 3 shifts) and 12 for fixers (4 for each of 3shifts).

Referring further to FIGURE 3, a numbering system for inter-connectingcables has been established. The letters (A) through (T) appear on theoutput of the patchboard, and indicate the termination of eachindividual wire from its mating electronic relay, for example: lead (A)on the patchboard terminates to electronic relay (A).

A similar numbering system using the numerals 1 to 24 has also beenestablished to show connections from the control chassis B to theirrespective terminations. As previously stated, control chassis B housesall control switches and indicator lamps necessary for the operation ofthe device illustrated. To illustrate the various functions, theavailable power source is brought to control chassis B by way ofterminals 1 and 2 so that it can be connected across a manual switch andconnected to output terminals 3 and 4. From these points it is connectedto chassis A at terminals 3 and t for use within this chassis. Also,terminal 5 connects the stylus voltage from control chassis A to controlchassis B. This is because a variable potentiometer is located oncontrol chassis B to vary the voltage, and thus control the intensity ofthe stylus trace on the graph paper. Terminal 6 returns the controlledvoltage back to the control chassis A, and thence through 7 on controlchassis A to the stylus. Terminals 7 and 8 on chassis B deliver voltage(after suitable switching not shown) to interior lighting which makesthe chart more readable during the recording operation.

Terminal 9 receives the negative lead of the stylus voltage, and can beswitched to interrupt the voltage. It is desirable to open the styluscircuit while the operator is changing paper on the drum. Terminal 10 onchassis A and terminals 10 and 17 on chassis B are system grounds. Allground leads are brought to the control chassis B for central grounding,thus preventing circulating currents in the ground system. Terminal 11furnishes the connections for a ground lead from the shift change relaywhich has been placed across a manually operated switch. This switchallows the operator to shift-change the mechanism device manuallywhenever automatic means are not used. Terminals 12 and 13 are used tobring filament voltage from the control chassis A to control chassis Bto power the small indicator lamps located on control chassis B.Terminals 14, 15 and 16 are not used but are available for future use ifnecessary.

The remaining points 17 to 24 serve to help align a fresh sheet ofTeledeltos paper upon the recording drum. When a fresh sheet ofrecording paper is put on the recording drum, it is desirable to checkto make certain that the paper is properly aligned on the drum. It isoften inconvenient to walk several hundred feet to the location of loomNo. 1 and stop it in order to record loom No. 1 as being stopped. Also,the mill supervisors object to the lost production which would resultfrom such a procedure. To overcome these difiiculties, a suitable relayis installed in control chassis B so that when a suitable switch (notshown) is operated, the relay is energized. One set of contacts (between17 and 18) shorts out the circuit to No. 1 loom, and alignment of thestylus marking can be determined. At the same time it is desirable todisengage any numerical counters that would otherwise be actuated as aresult of this action. Therefore, terminals 19 and 20, terminals 21 and22, and terminals 23 and 24 are connected to contacts across which thecounting circuits of the Styles, Fixers and Weavers counters are opened.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described usingspecific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, andit is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a switch having a plurality of contacts and contact actuatingmeans to which signals are fed for monitoring including, stacked groupsof rotary switches each having contacts and a contact actuating means,said contact actuating means being ganged and mechanically and drivinglyinterconnected to one another and said contacts being stacked, meansproviding relative rotary movement between said contacts and saidcontact actuating means, said contact actuating means and said contactsof respective groups of each rotary switch being staggered with respectto each other, means for rotating said contact actuating means of eachgroup in a predetermined timed sequence whereby when a contact actuatingmeans of a group leaves a respective contact a corresponding contactactuating means of another group is fully operable to actuate acorresponding contact, and said contact actuating means of each rotaryswitch being carried on a common shaft so that said contact actuatingmeans thereof can be driven at a constant uniform rate.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said contact actuatingmeans are brushes and wherein said brushes are staggered with respect toeach other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,701,283 2/1955Droel 200- 2,710,896 6/1955 Graybill et al. 200-105 3,086,096 4/1963McGee 20011 X ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner. J. R. SCOTT,Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A SWITCH HAVING A PLURALITY OF CONTACTS AND CONTACT ACTUATINGMEANS TO WHICH SIGNALS ARE FED FOR MONITORING INCLUDING, STACKED GROUPSOF ROTARY SWITCHES EACH HAVING CONTACTS AND A CONTACT ACTUATING MEANS,SAID CONTACT ACTUATING MEANS BEING GANGED AND MECHANICALLY AND DRIVINGLYINTERCONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER AND SAID CONTACTS BEING STACKED, MEANSPROVIDING RELATIVE ROTARY MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID CONTACTS AND SAIDCONTACT ACTUATING MEANS, SAID CONTACT ACTUATING MEANS AND SAID CONTACTSOF RESPECTIVE GROUPS OF EACH ROTARY SWITCH BEING STAGGERED WITH RESPECTTO EACH OTHER, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CONTACT ACTUATING MEANS OF EACHGROUP IN A PREDETERMINED TIMED SEQUENCE WHEREBY WHEN A CONTACT ACTUATINGMEANS OF A GROUP LEAVES A RESPECTIVE CONTACT A CORRESPONDING CONTACTACTUATING MEANS OF ANOTHER GROUP IS FULLY OPERABLE TO ACTUATE ACORRESPONDING CONTACT, AND SAID CONTACT ACTUATING MEANS OF EACH ROTARYSWITCH BEING CARRIED ON A COMMON SHAFT SO THAT SAID CONTACT ACTUATINGMEANS THEREOF CAN BE DRIVEN AT A CONSTANT UNIFORM RATE.